Bitter kola, a staple health fruit in Nigeria, was reported to have stopped the virus at test tube experiments. The virus has so far killed more than 600 victims since its outbreak in Guinea, with Nigeria’s only recorded death being that of Liberian consultant, Patrick Sawyer, who died in Lagos last week.
An Inquirer Washington Bureau reported Iwu who made this discovery, as saying that a cure could be sourced from the same African forests where the disease was identified.
Iwu is a doctor with a combination of folk-remedy expertise and a doctorate in Western pharmacology. He is also the Executive Director of the Bioresources Development and Conservation Programme, and a consultant at Walter Reed Army Hospital in suburban Washington.
One of the top infectious-disease laboratories in the US was said to have tested the fruit, and said that it passed the crucial and difficult first hurdle.
A virus expert who heads the effort at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases in Fort Detrick, Maryland, to find antiviral drugs to fight exotic diseases, John Huggins, said, “It certainly is a promising compound. So far, it’s made it through all the gates that it has been sent through.”
But there are many more tests to be done, first on mice in the next few months, and eventually primates, before it would be used on people, Huggins said.
Only one of 20 prospective drugs that pass the test-tube test makes it onto the market, so the odds are against the fruit, Huggins said.
A Professor of Microbiology at Washington University in St. Louis, Lawrence Gelb, said, “I would be – and am – very sceptical. But you can’t be an outright cynic; eventually some (prospective drug) works.”
The reason bitter kola may have an edge over other types of drugs that work in lab tests is that many drugs often prove toxic to people and animals in subsequent testing, whereas bitter cola has been used for centuries, and has gotten federal approval as a safe dietary supplement, Head of Applied Research at Missouri Botanical Garden, who has tried to develop plants as medicine in the past, Jim Miller, said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Thank God for natural cures. I knew my father was right - solution is always around the source of every problem - orogbo (bitter kola) to the rescue.
ReplyDeletetank God for a possible solution safety meanz life we are safe until we are saved God iz so wonderful
ReplyDeleteSome people just play with word when actually they have little or nothing to say."was reported to have stopped the virus at test tube experiment" Journalist cum Doc failed to tell any. other thing- - like clinical trial, success rate, side effect,failure rate, and approval by relevant body if bitter cola has been used to produce a remedy.Also who owns the patent for the finding or remedy. If the research is still in progress he should have waited for certain stage to be sure that the result is clear and incontrovertible. One thing is that some just use incident like the Ebola to hit the headline.Moreover,he did not tell us whether relevant agencies,bodies or instutions have subjected the claim to test and scrutiny to ensure it is efficacious or wholesome to human health.
ReplyDeleteOjoma,why are u always negative about everything?
DeleteOjoma... u ve not tried at ol.. u shud b happy dat atleast they found one tn dat cud b helpful..haba! God can b angry wit U.. Jes commend d efforts of d scientists they r tryin!
DeleteOjoma or what's your name... Please you go into the lab and make your own news headline too... Bad news carrier... No dey talk that thing. Abeg go find bitter kola chew.
DeleteThank God for the searched of ebola's cure
ReplyDeleteWith everything going on, you would think they would skip the animal trials and try it on humans. It's a fruit - people eat it anyway in other countries - so seriously? Why take so long finding something to stop the deaths?
ReplyDeleteit is good to have hope. Please more reseaches should be conducted to save life and prevent further spread
ReplyDeleteThis fruit has been eaten by millions of people for more than a century. People use us for flu fever, headache etc. Since Ebola has similar symptoms, I believe this fruit is the African solution for Ebola. God is a wise and wonderful God. He made everything available to us. We just lack knowledge.
ReplyDeleteThank God for the good news that I have heard,He is truly a merciful God indeed....
ReplyDeleteOjoma,it was clearly stated that it has only passed the test tube experiments and many more tests would be done in d next few months.why not wait till d tests are completed b4 drawing ur conclusion.
ReplyDeleteMen TAnks to God who made the cure for EBola bt we still persuade our doctor and scientist to still keep researching on more alternative cure for EBOLA GOD GUIDE THIS NATION
DeleteJust take note that prevention is better than cure...is only God dat can save us o.
ReplyDeleteThank God the diseased American doctor has reach America.that will make all scientist to be serious to find the lasting solution to Ebola virus.they wanted to make it an African issue initially.Now everybody is involved.
ReplyDeleteDr Maurice Iwu made this claim??? Is that not the former INEC guy? He said this way back then now ( I think 1999), then he dissappeared when he was told to prove it, una come turn am to news now; Okay Contunu o. No be only me waka come sha.
ReplyDelete@anonymous August 3, 2:43pm,Thank you for refreshing our memory. All those attacking Ojoma na muntula them be.
ReplyDeletecan bitter kola actually solve the problem of Ebola virus?
ReplyDeleteThis is serious. I pray God show us the solution to this problem.
ReplyDeleteAll we need is Gods intervention and remain prayerfully God will protect His own we have to encurage the doctor to research more. And try to inculcate cleanness and hygiene .
ReplyDeletemay his name be praise.4he promise 2be wit his children,an he de Lord God almight is still wit us.
ReplyDeleteThey should just do the test direct on humans, after all we all know this natural fruit called bitter kola. I eat it always and atimes used it when am taking Guinness. Its taste is wonderful with stout!
ReplyDelete